Trump and Cruz have spoken by phone a few times since meeting in August at the Family Leader summit in Iowa, a source said, including during the government shutdown.

Both also attended an American Spectator dinner in late October at Washington’s JW Marriott, where Trump received the T. Boone Pickens Award for entrepreneurship.

Several Republican presidential candidates in 2012 made forays to Trump Tower to meet with the TV personality after he passed on running. Trump endorsed Mitt Romney in Las Vegas ahead of the Nevada caucuses.